Chris Matthews advises Kamala Harris to distance herself from liberal politics

Vice President Harris speaks at a campaign rally on July 17, 2024 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Commentator Chris Matthews encourages Vice President Harris to distance herself from the policies of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party as part of her presidential candidacy this fall.

Matthews, during an appearance on MSNBC early Monday, said Harris should embrace her personal story, saying, “She has a chance to say, ‘This is who I am. I am the daughter of an Indian immigrant, a Jamaican immigrant, and I had a tiger mother. And I went to Howard.'”

“Why did you choose to go to Howard? Why don’t you identify with the African-American history of this country? People want to know,” Matthews added.

Harris, Matthews said, should also clarify that she is “not a member of the Squad,” referring to a group of liberal members of the House of Representatives that includes Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democrat, New York) and Ilhan Omar (Democrat, Minnesota).

Matthews said Harris should emphasize that she is “not an extreme leftist” and tout her experience as a prosecutor and her belief in the law, “not just for Donald Trump,” referring to the former president and Republican nominee.

The expert added that Harris should be aware that she wants to see law enforcement in “big cities” and that she is “not some George Soros district attorney in Philly.”

“I think she has to work on both ends.”

Harris received the endorsement of President Biden on Sunday when he withdrew from the presidential race. In the hours that followed, the vice president also received increasing support from leading Democratic governors and other prominent party members.